BJP demands impartial probe in cricketer Rajashree death case
BJP demands impartial probe in cricketer Rajashree death case
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Cuttack: With the death of lady cricketer Rajashree Swain still a mystery, BJP workers mounted a protest in front of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) office in Cuttack on Saturday, demanding a high-level and impartial investigation into the tragedy.
Activists from the BJP's Cuttack city unit called the 26-year-old women cricketer's death a murder and demanded an impartial probe into the incident, claiming that there were damage marks on her skull.
Leaders of the saffron party demanded to know why the woman traveled into the forest 22 kilometers from her home to commit suicide, raising slogans against the OCA and the state government.
They urged an independent investigation to uncover the truth and bring those responsible for Rajashree's killing to justice, claiming it was a clear case of murder.
They claimed that a letter supposedly written by the lady cricketer was discovered on the spot, and that it held two persons responsible for her death, including a coach and a former OCA member.
Protesters also pointed out that the woman's family members had claimed she was murdered and requested an investigation into the incident.
The 26-year-old cricketer went missing on January 11, a day after failing to make the final list of 16 players for the BCCI Senior Women's One-Day Trophy (BCCI Domestic Season 2022-23), which begins on January 18 in Puducherry. When she did not return home and her phone was found switched off, her coach, Pushpanajli Banerjee, filed a missing person report at the Mangalabag police station.
On Thursday (January 12), some residents spotted a scooter and helmet on the Bramhanabast-Kapursingh forest route and alerted Mangalabag police, who began searching for her and subsequently discovered her hanging from a tree.
Though the police suspect it to be a case of suicide, family members of Rajasree, a right-arm fast bowler and a middle-order hitter, stated that she was murdered "since the body exhibited injury marks and her eyes were damaged". The cricketer's sister accused OCA of favoritism, claiming she was purposefully left out of the team despite being an all-rounder and a good performance.
However, OCA CEO Subrat Behera confirmed that there were no abnormalities in the selection process.
Rajashree had been a member of the state squad since 2014, but was released during the 2021-22 season.
